Holiday Entitlement — Right to Vacation in Germany

How much vacation are you entitled to?

Statutory minimum (Bundesurlaubsgesetz §3): 24 working days in a 6-day week = 20 days in a 5-day week. In employment contracts and collective agreements typically 25–30 days.

People with a disability certificate get +5 days (Zusatzurlaub).

When can you take vacation?

• Full entitlement after 6 months of employment (Wartezeit)
• In the first 6 months: 1/12 of annual vacation for each month worked

Resturlaub — Unused vacation

• As a rule, use it by March 31 of the following year, otherwise it expires
• BUT: According to ECJ/BAG case law, the employer has a Hinweispflicht — they must notify you in time about remaining vacation. If they fail to do so, vacation does not expire

Illness during vacation

Got sick while on vacation? Get a Krankschreibung (medical certificate) — those days don't count as vacation and go back to your pool (§9 BUrlG). For longer illness, see Krankengeld.

Vacation and end of employment

• Leaving in the first half of the year: vacation is pro-rated
• Unused days → payment of equivalent (Urlaubsabgeltung)

Special situations

• Minijob: You have full vacation rights too (pro-rated to working days)
• Elternzeit: Employer may reduce vacation by 1/12 for each full month of parental leave
• Urlaubsgeld (vacation bonus) is voluntary — if you receive it, you'll see it on your payslip
• Sonderurlaub (wedding, birth, death of relative, moving): 1–2 days according to §616 BGB or collective agreement